The Pine Hill Fire Department provides twenty-four hour a day fire protection and rescue services to the Pine Hill, New Jersey community as well as all surrounding communities through concise prevention and aggressive suppression practices.

From the year 1927 to the year 1990, the Borough of Pine Hill was protected by three segregated fire companies: The Pine Hill Fire Company #1, Eagle Fire Company, and the Amber Terrace Fire Company. In the year 1986, the exertion and dreams of some firefighters became a reality with the appointment of a Borough Fire Chief to supervise all three companies onto one fire department. Over the four years that followed, the members of the three organization worked together. In the year 1991, the Pine Hill Fire Company #1 moved into one building with the Eagle Fire Company. On June 11, 1991 the deeds to all of the fire houses were signed over. This was the unequivocal creation of the Pine Hill Fire Department. The Borough of Pine Hill now recognizes one Fire Department which maintains one firehouse now known as the Pine Hill Fire Department.

This station was built in 2004 on the site of the old Eagle Fire Company on Erial Road. It must not go unnoticed that this merge was not compelled upon the firefighters of Pine Hill, but was instead the result of their own work and devotion.

History of Fire Service in Pine Hill - Written January 2008

On September 17, 1917 the Pine Hill Fire Department was born, however at the time, the Borough was actually a part of Clementon Twp., thus the first name of the Fire Department was the Clementon Heights Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. The first station was located in the 300 block of Erial Road and consisted of a one bay barn style frame building. The original firefighting vehicle was a model "T" Chemical wagon carrying about 85 gallons of soda acid with a single 50-ft. of 3/4" booster hose that was stored in a basket over the tanks. Other than that, there were small wooden ground ladders, buckets and shovels, all of which was typical equipment of the day.

The fire station was a one bay barn style building, which was actually built on a hillside platform that kept the bay door even with Erial Road. As the natural grade of that location dropped off very quickly, creating a valley that to this day still exists and extends almost all the way to West Branch Avenue.

Funding was raised by several methods, but the most prevalent of the day was vaudeville type shows, and dinners, all of which held at the fire station. Home donations were also solicited, and in return for your donation the home owner was presented with a small metallic fire mark (approximately 2'X2"), looking very similar to a fire badge. This fire mark was to be placed near the front door simply to show that they donated. In fact, still to this day, during renovations to the older properties in the town, especially along the Erial Road area of the town, people will find these marks affixed to the front of their homes.

In early 1926, Clementon Township purchased three (3) new Hale 250 GPM rotary gear pumpers. The cost of each unit was approximately $1,200.00. One went to Somerdale, one to Marlton and the third to Clementon Heights Fire Company. Those units where actually delivered in 1927. This was Pine Hill's very first new fire truck and was painted the customary RED. Shortly after its delivery, a couple of members of the fire company took the new engine out. During that driving session, they ran it off the road and into the woods, damaging it. This did not sit well with some of the fire company members, along with the town fathers. The membership split and the Eagle Fire Company was created, and built a wooden garagewithin the 1100 block of Erial Road (the departments current location) and the Hale was relocated to that station.

The Borough of Pine Hill succeeded from Clementon Township in 1929. However, Clementon Heights Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 maintained its name until May of 1936, when the membership voted to become the Pine Hill Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 and remained at the 310 Erial Rd. site. During the '30s and '40s, the two fire companies survived on a small appropriation provided by the Borough, and continued fund raising. Apparatus, other than the Hale were all used units, military surplus, or some home built apparatus made by the members.

On or about 1943, a group of citizens living in the far western section of the Borough, known as the Amber Terrace section, decided to improve the fire protection of their neighborhood. Getting together and started the Amber Terrace Fire Company No. 2. The original fire station was a one bay station that was actually attached to the Pine Hill Municipal building and faced Cross Road, which was then located at the intersection of West Branch Ave and Cross Rd.

The original engine was a used 1930s Dodge vintage pumper painted WHITE. It was housed in the above described bay. Later, the company acquired a 1940s vintage willeys military style Jeep. That unit was retrofitted by the members with a booster tank and pump, creating a unique brush unit. It too was painted white and was housed in a grade level basement of the municipal building that faced Branch Avenue. A large rolling/sliding door was placed on the east side toward the rear of the building (facing West Branch Ave.).

During the 1950s, with the war years behind them, all three fire companies had an assurgance. In 1953 the Pine Hill No. 1 company purchased a brand new Chevrolet Truck / Bus chassis. A body design was derived by the members that included high side compartments on both sides with side by side sliding doors, twin low mounted booster reels with 3/4" hose. At the rear, under the booster tank, yet above the chassis frame rails, a ground ladder storage compartment was built for a 24-ft. wooden extension ladder and a 14-ft. wooden roof ladder. A rear hose bed, located over a 500 gallon tank, which would hold approximately 1,200-ft. of 2.5" double jacked supply hose and a small quantity of 1.5" stored. The pump was to be a 70 GPM-PTO driven unit.

Once the design was completed the members commenced the actual construction of the unit. With the actual construction taking place, largely in the backyard of then member Harry Griffith, who lived at 49 Mount Clement Avenue. With some help from local businessmen like Al Schmidt welding, the construction took about one full year to complete.

The fire station was still located at 310 Erial Rd., but at this time, the station still only consisted of a one bay engine room with a small 40'x40' social hall addition. The grade concerns had been addressed over the years, utilizing fill dirt, they had consistently built up the grade even with Erial Road and back about 50' deep from the roadway. The front line apparatus then consisted of a used 1930s Dodge engine, and a Chevrolet pick-up that was equipped with a 500 GPM military surplus self powered gasoline operated engine. This unit was actually stored outside as there was no room to be placed inside.

On or about 1956, the Amber Terrace station also purchased a brand new GMC truck chassis. Chief George Laird and the members designed a unique pumper for its day. The cab only provided seating for only two members. They decided to build what today would be considered a jump seat area. Utilizing the center area of the truck, normally used to mount a mid-mount pump, they designed a seating area, which had a seating capacity of eight (8) personnel. This area was accessible from a side door on both sides and it did not have roof. The unit was limited on compartment space, but did have a hose bed for supply hose, a 500 gallon booster tank and twin booster reels on top. The pump was a front mount 500 GPM located on an extended front bumper assembly. The ground ladders were placed into a rear compartment under the booster tank. The truck was painted white with red wheels. The majority of the work performed on the Amber Terrace unit was completed by Al Schmidt welding shop, which was located on West Third Avenue.

While Pine Hill No. 1 and Amber Terrace Fire Companies were building their own apparatus, the main thrust of this was for the fire companies to maintain their absolute independence, especially from the control of the Mayor and Council.

During the mid 1950s, the town did not yet have a hydrant system, with the exception of two areas. The geographic area located along Erial Road (Sitley Avenue to Hickstown Road) with hydrants located about every block or so. That system was owned, installed and supplied by the Clementon Water Company.

In the Amber Terrace section of the town, the citizens of that region built there own domestic water system. Complete with its own water tower having 4" and 6" water mains that primarily covered only two streets, Cross and Wilson Roads, servicing a limited number of hydrants.

The remainder of the community literally had no sustained water supply for fire protection. Thus the fire companies had to acquire Tankers to provide a reasonable water supply for firefighting. The members of the Eagle Fire Company acquired a GMC tanker. The members had also added a full beavertail for the transport of personnel to the scene of emergencies. Pine Hill No. 1 went in search of a tanker, locating an advertisement from ESSO Gasoline Company in Philadelphia. Offering for sale some of their old fuel delivery trucks, seeking the sum of $500.00 each. The members went over to view the available units finding a 1949 GMC tanker capable to hold 2,600 gallons. But the members found that the asking price had been miss quoted and the actual cost was $5,000.00. Pleading there case to the ESSO people, the company eventually sold the fire company the unit for $500.00.

Bringing that truck home, the fire company did not have the funds to paint it, letter it or for that fact, equip it. To get by, the members bought one gallon of red paint, thinning it down, they where able to get a coat of paint on it. The lettering was completed with the use of normal cut-out lettering stencils. Placing "PINE HILL NO. 1" on each cab door in silver paint. The only emergency lighting was a red light on the front of the mechanical siren, which was affixed to the right front fender and some small flasher type lights on the rear. Initially the PTO fuel transfer pump built into the unit was the only means of pumping water from the truck to other apparatus on the fire ground. However, this was found to be less than sufficient. To address this, the members took the surplus 500 GPM pump that was on the pick-up, and mounted it on the rear of the tanker. A 3" flexible hose line was affixed from the tank to the pump. This served to significantly improve the capabilities of the unit, not only when transferring water but also while performing firefighting duties.

The next problem the members had pertaining to this unit was where to house it. The fire station was only one small bay, and the 1953 Chevrolet pumper was housed there. Thus, for the first couple of years of service the unit was actually parked under a large Oak tree just next to the fire station. Keeping it filled in the summer and empty in the winter, filling it from an Erial Road hydrant when needed.

In 1958, with the 1927 Hale still on the front line, the members of the Eagle Fire Company approached Mayor and Council for the purchase of a new engine. Granted that permission, they were able to acquire a GMC Central 500 GPM pumper with a 500 gallon tank. The unit had a standard body design of the day. With the left side having standard wheel well compartments with a 24' and a 14' roof ladder mounted above the compartments. It had a rear hose bed with a booster reel over the pump module, and beavertail (rear step). This was the first GREEN apparatus (utilizing the 1958 Chrysler Spruce green as the color of choice).

It was also during the late 1950s that all three of the Fire Companies made significant improvements to their facilities. Amber Terrace acquired a property located at 14 De Cou Road. On that property, they built a fully masonry three bay building with a pre-cast roofing assembly. Pine Hill Fire Company No. 1 also decided to expand.